One of the great pleasures of creating a movie is that you craft the illusion of a world that doesn't really exist. And one of the most tangible aspects of that illusion (especially for genre films) are those delightful constructions with just enough reality to make them believable when a camera is on. Of course, if you're working with George Lucas on the new Star Wars trilogy you don't get to see too many sets... or actors or props. Instead you point at a tennis ball floating in a sea of green and scream "Look out, Clones!!" (I would argue this is one reason the new films aren't nearly as compelling.)
Where would Raiders of the Lost Ark be without the Ark? Or Aliens without that delightful exoskeleton that Ripley kicks ass in? Or Spacemen without the interior of a futuristic spacecraft as envisioned by overworked, barely funded show-runners of the 1950s?
Even in the early days of TV, the spaceships used by the stars of the sci-fi shows could easily become characters in their own right (and modern series like Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica show how this trend has continued into the present). Captain Video had four ships associated with it, but most agree that the gorgeous Galaxy II was the best, while Space Patrol had the Terra V. I haven't really decided on the name of the ship to be used in Spacemen, but I'm leaning towards "Comet." And for now, as a homage to the other shows, let's give it the number "III."
The Comet III is the Solar Patrol's most state-of-the-art vessel, featuring the latest in Radium-Atomic engines and Photonic missiles. Though it is engaged in an ongoing mission of peace, it must be prepared to defend itself from the numerous warmongering planets that threaten the Earth. And how much of this is represented with my props? Well... one interior wall. Partial wall, really. And you don't want to know how long it took me to put together.
This is the weapons locker, where the crew can arm themselves to explore an unknown world. I had to read two electronics manuals just to get a light to flash when you flip the switch...
...at which point the door slides up and a platform pushes out, giving access to the "Alpha Gun" (the standard raygun used by the Solar Patrol). It emits a powerful electrico-beam that will temporarily incapacitate almost any life form
Here's the ugly truth behind the sci-fictional reality. Note all the electrical components needed just to make a light blink; welcome to the future.
And so, nearly non-existent readers, we come to the end of our tour. Not just on props, but pretty much on everything I have. Don't expect any more updates for awhile, and definitely don't expect any more "info dumps." As I get closer to actual production, I'll need almost all my resources to keep things on track. However, I will try to provide short updates on how I'm doing (sort of like I promised waaay back on post uno).Till next time, fellow Space Cadets, keep the solar winds at your back!
2 comments:
Regarding ships as characters, are you familiar with the BEST example (since 1960, at least): Serenity of "Firefly" and "Serenity"?
Uncle Hyena of LJ
The Serenity would definitely count, possessing both a distinct exterior and interior. Interestingly, one of the biggest differences between the fifties ships and the craft from Star Trek onward is that the former were almost always one or two-men craft, and the latter were more akin to big naval vessels (or in Serenity's case, a kind of "merchant marine" craft). I'm guessing Forbidden Planet's depiction of a starship was a definite influence on this shift.
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